Beginning in May 1856, the Empire's major automobile factories began to release cars and trucks to society. Although, today's cars and trucks are ugly in appearance and not fast, with a maximum speed of only 40 kilometers per hour, and there are often problems. However, when the cars and trucks hit the market, they caused an immediate sensation.

Originally, during the war, only the government departments and the military of the empire were equipped with cars. That has already caught the attention of the population of the Empire. Compared to horse-drawn carriages, automobiles are undoubtedly much taller. A lot of wealthy people want to be able to buy a car to fill up the spectacle or to transport goods. It's just that during the war, cars have to give priority to meeting the needs of the military, and the civilian population has to wait a little longer.

So much so that after the state announced the start of selling cars, the sales outlets of major automobile factories were immediately crowded with people. Because the empire has vigorously developed industry and commerce in recent years, there are many rich people. Everyone is not bad at money, so they naturally hope to be able to buy this kind of in-demand commodity.

Even if the price of the car is not low, the price of each car is 2,000 yuan, and the price of a truck is 3,000 yuan. But it still can't resist the enthusiasm of the people of the empire. The empire's major automobile factories were only able to put 100,000 cars and 50,000 taels of trucks on the market every month, except for the vehicles they supplied for military expenses. However, in less than three days, the cars and trucks were looted, and there were still a large number of people holding on to the money to buy them.

Sales in May alone reached 350 million Chinese dollars. You know, now the cost of cars and trucks in the empire is not high. The cost of each car is only $500, and the cost of a truck is only $700 each. This is completely profiteering!

So much so that the Emperor Long Yufei and the Prime Minister Lin Zihao were excited after seeing the sales figures. The royal family and the government each held half of the shares in these auto factories in the empire. This means that this month alone, the government and the royal family have earned more than 100 million yuan in the automotive industry! You must know that the annual fiscal revenue of the empire before the war was only more than one billion Chinese dollars. That's it. The automobile industry alone could more than double the empire's finances!

"Your Majesty, we should ask the major car factories to expand production. to meet the needs of the population. There are still so many people who have not bought a car, this market will definitely be hot! Lin Zihao was too excited. So much so that I was a little trembling when I spoke.

"Well, the major car factories have started to expand production, and by next month, we can supply 150,000 cars and 70,000 trucks to the market. We will continue to produce this volume in the future. In addition, overseas markets must also be developed. Especially in the European market, those allies of the empire should give priority to the supply of cars to them. In this way, the empire will be able to make a lot of money from the automotive industry! Long Yufei also said excitedly. He was also shocked by the enthusiasm of the people.

The development of the automobile industry will promote the development of industries such as steel and rubber. This will promote the rapid development of the empire's economy once again. In this way, the development speed of the empire in the future will be greatly ahead of other countries. It is even more impossible for Germany to compare with the Reich.

In the summer of 1856, the development of the automobile industry was as hot as this hot weather. The cars and trucks that the empire's car factories put on the market every month are completely in short supply. Both the royal family and the government are making a lot of money.

At this time, the government announced that it would sell automobile production technology to private capital and build a total of 10 automobile production plants throughout the country to further meet the demand for automobiles from the imperial public and overseas markets. After this news was released, it immediately caused a national sensation. Now car sales are so hot. Fools know that this is a money-making industry, and it is completely a golden rooster that lays golden eggs! The government's willingness to sell the technology used to produce cars has undoubtedly ignited the enthusiasm of the public. The great merchants of the empire began to rush to the imperial capital to participate in the bidding. Many businessmen are afraid that their strength is not enough. They also joined forces with other merchants to bid.

This time, the empire only sold ten places for car manufacturers, and the highest price was awarded to each place. After obtaining the quota, you can build a joint venture with the empire to build a car factory. The government provides the technology, private businessmen are responsible for sales, and the government holds 40 percent of the shares in the factory. The profits obtained are also distributed according to the number of shares. Although the conditions of the imperial government were somewhat harsh, the merchants still flocked to it. Marx said. These businessmen can do anything for the sake of profit, especially profiteering. Especially with the government, it is more guaranteed. These ten places. Each one sold for sky-high prices. With these ten joint ventures alone, the imperial family and government received two billion Chinese dollars. In the future, after these automobile factories are completed and put into production, the profits will continue to flow.

The government can effectively ensure the quality of the car by taking a stake in technology, so that it will not be produced by those unscrupulous businessmen who have no safety guarantee of steel coffins. In addition, it can ensure that the Empire's car technology will not spread out quickly, so that those opponents of the Empire will be informed.

From September, Imperial cars began to be sold in overseas markets. The first to be supplied were the two hardcore allies of the empire, the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of Spain. The militaries of both countries have begun to purchase large quantities of trucks to replace mules and horses, so the demand for trucks is very large. However, in view of the demand in the domestic market, the empire was only able to provide 10,000 taels of cars and 10,000 taels of trucks to the two countries every month. This is a drop in the bucket for the needs of both countries. The rest of the European countries are also watching with their eyes. Ambassadors from various countries asked the empire to buy the technology for the production of automobiles. Especially the Germans, even more so.

During the war, the Reichs' use of trucks and automobiles greatly increased the speed of movement of the troops, which attracted the attention of the Germans. They asked the empire to buy this technology at that time. It's just that it was rejected by the empire on the grounds that it involved national security. Now that the Reich has begun to sell cars to the private sector, the Germans, of course, will bring up the same old story.

The Reich would not have agreed to the supply of technology for the production of automobiles to Germany. However, the Reich promised to sell cars and trucks to the German market. Of course, the price is a little more expensive than in the Empire, after all, the transportation costs and the like have to be counted.

From December 1856, the empire began selling cars to the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the German Empire. However, each country was only able to provide 5,000 taels of cars and 5,000 trucks. This is also the result of the increase in production of several major car factories in the empire, otherwise it would not be enough to satisfy the domestic market, where there is excess production to provide them. It is expected that this problem will not be alleviated until a year later, when a joint venture between the imperial government and private capital starts.

However, by then, the empire must have opened up more markets. For example, countries in South America also want to be able to buy cars and trucks from the empire. It's just that because of the lack of production at the moment, it is not possible to supply them yet. Thanks to the colonial rule of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal, the countries of South America also developed very rapidly. In particular, the three ABC countries are now considered relatively wealthy countries. When the country and its people become rich, they will naturally have a better life for the outside world. Cars and trucks of the Empire, naturally, are indispensable. In addition, the three countries also began to compete in armaments, which was tantamount to giving the empire an additional market for the arms trade.

Of the three countries in South America, Brazil is the well-deserved boss. Argentina and Chile are not weak either. The contradictions between the three countries forced them to increase their investment in armaments. The Chinese Empire, the world hegemon, has naturally become their primary target for purchasing weapons.

In Berlin, the capital of Germany, the first batch of 5,000 taels of cars and 5,000 taels of trucks sold by the Reich to Germany were almost all purchased by the German government and military, and there was not much left for the people at all. Unless it's the German elites, you can only wait slowly!

"Your Majesty, the Chinese automobile industry is developing very rapidly, which not only makes the Chinese profitable, but also drives the development of steel and other related industries. If Germany can develop this industry, then our industrial development will soon be able to develop. "Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck's eyes also fell on this emerging industry. Although the German Empire was founded, it relied on a huge domestic market and developed very quickly in industry. However, Germany also wants a new industry to develop rapidly.

"However, we lacked the technology. The Chinese bite to death in this regard and refuse to provide the relevant technology to the empire! A flash of annoyance flashed in William's eyes, and he seemed to be very dissatisfied with the stinginess of the Chinese Empire. At the beginning, when China needed the advanced industrial technology of the Kingdom of Prussia, such as the production technology of optical instruments, the Kingdom of Prussia also generously sold it to the Chinese Empire. Now, the Chinese empire has actually refused to cooperate, which is simply ungrateful.

"Your Majesty, we can copy Chinese cars and trucks." Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck said.

"However, the Chinese have already registered a patent in Germany, if we copy it, then what should we do if the Chinese pursue it?" William I hesitated.

"Your Majesty, even if the Chinese pursue it, we can interfere with the judiciary. In addition, even when copying, we can make some changes. "Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck laughed at the tree hole.

However, he seems to have forgotten that even if Germany vigorously develops the automobile industry, the oil and rubber resources it needs to import from the empire. The Empire can use this to jam their necks. (To be continued)

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